Minimum vs. living wage

Hennessy’s Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA’s Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. Scroll down for a PDF version. For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index

The CCPA’s Trish Hennessy offers a glimmer of hope in her index this month. Inspired by the CCPA-BC office’s campaign to get BC employers to pay their workers a living wage (as opposed to a minimum wage that keeps working people poor), this month’s Hennessy’s Index shows that the idea is catching on.

$8.75

Minimum hourly wage in B.C. Lowest in Canada, but scheduled to rise to $10.25 in May 2012.

$18.81

Hourly pay needed to make a living family wage in Vancouver.

25

Percentage of couples with children in Greater Vancouver who earn less than the living wage income.

3

Number of financial institutions in Canada that pay a living wage: VanCity Credit Union, Community Savings Credit Union and CCEC Credit Union.

1

Number of municipalities in Canada to adopt a living wage policy for all city staff: New Westminster, B.C. Other municipalities are considering following suit.

$11

Minimum hourly wage in Nunavut. The highest in Canada.

$10.25

Ontario’s minimum hourly wage. The second highest in Canada.

$16.60

Hourly wage needed in 2008 for couples with two young children living in the Greater Toronto Area to earn a living wage.

140

Number of municipal living wage policy/bylaws passed in the U.S. since 1994.

1

Number of Olympic games committed to pay a living wage: the London Olympics 2012.

1

Number of provinces or territories that index minimum wage to inflation every year: Yukon, for the city of Whitehorse.